Think Positive

From software to hardware, the Bias Amp concept is positively amazing – check out the colossal 600-watt Bias Head and its smaller sibling

- Nick Guppy

Digital amp simulations have matured at a scary speed over the past few years, and Positive Grid has underlined its reputation as one of the best with a recent new version of its megapopular Bias Amp software. The brilliantly designed app works on iOS and Windows platforms, allowing users to build their own virtual amp from scratch as well as tapping into the thousands of ready-made patches on Positive Grid’s ToneCloud app. Bias Amp has proved so popular that some guitarists were plugging into audio interfaces and using it live. So, it was a natural step for Positive Grid to introduce its own in the shape of the Bias Head, which promises practically zero-latency operation, as well as the option of a whopping 600-watt power stage. The hardware range has also recently been expanded with the scaled-down Bias Mini, offering dedicated versions for guitar and bass and a 300-watt power stage.

Both heads are exquisitely designed and assembled; the internals are PCB-based and unsurprisingly look more like a computer than a guitar amp. The toaster-sized Bias Head’s front panel controls include reassuringly familiar knobs for gain, bass, mid, treble, presence and master volume, while over the top of these is a second row that allows instant tweaking of amp type, number of virtual tube stages, power amp topology and more.

Around the back there are balanced and unbalanced stereo outputs, a headphones jack, MIDI in/out/thru sockets, footswitch sockets, two expression pedal jacks and a send/return for the programmable effects loop, USB socket and a wireless button that allows the Bias Head to communicate with the Bias Amp mobile app via Bluetooth. Tucked away in the bottom corner are useful toggle switches that let you run the amp’s speaker and line-outs in serial or parallel mode, for wet/dry rigs, and footswitch calibration.